Writing instruments



Nov. 25, 1969 HEROELN "3,480,370

WRITING INSTRUMENTS Filed Jan. 18, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ I 6INVENTOR QELN HAROLD ATTORNEY v NQV. 25,-1969- I KOELN 3,480,370

- WRITING INSTRUMENTS Filed Jan. 18, 1968 I S Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORHAROLD E. KOELN BY sfe ATTORNEY v Nov. 25, 1969 H. E. KOELN 3,480,370

WRITING INSTRUMENTS Filed Jan. 18. 1968 5 She ets-Sheet 5 200 274 3FIGJS 1 1 1 1 1 zz I Z20 I Y. 20

Y LL! 1 I y v 7 2259 2 7 2/2 (2/0 INVENTOR HAROLD E. KOELN,

ATTO RN EY United States Patent 3,480,370 WRITING INSTRUMENTS Harold E.Koeln, Rock Hill, Mo., assignor, by mesne assignments, to PennCorporation, Princeton, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 18,1968, Ser. No. 698,903 Int. Cl. B43k 7/12 US. Cl. 401-107 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A writing instrument having a barrel and anink cartridge shiftably mounted in the barrel and provided at one endwith a writing tip. At its end, the barrel has longitudinally extendingfingers which close uponthemselves and completely shield the writing tipwhen the cartridge is in its retracted position. A camming surface onthe cartridge engages inwardly projecting shoulders on the fingers andspreads the fingers as the cartridge moves to its extended position.Elastomeric or spring metal bands assist in urging the fingers together.In a modified form of the invention the fingers form part of a colletwhich is shiftable within the barrel.

This invention relates in general to writing instruments and, moreparticularly, to writing instruments having retractable marking tips.

Ball-point pens having retractable writing points are commonplace andhave been in use almost since the inception of the ball-point penitself. Since the rotatable ball in the point of a ball-point pen isgenerally very small, the point itself requires little breadth tosupport it and consequently the hole or aperture in the end of the penbarrel through which the point projects need not be much larger than thepoint. Therefore, when the point is retracted into the pen barrel, thechance of the point contacting and staining nearby objects is remote.Nevertheless, after repeated use ink and stray paper fibers tend toaccumulate on the point and this accumulation is transferred to thesurrounding margins of the barrel aperture as the writing tip iswithdrawn. -In time a relatively large deposit of ink and paper fiberaccumulates on the pen barrel, thereby subjecting shirt and coatpockets, the interior of purses, and other places where such pens arenormally kept to permanent ink stains.

Recently fiber tip pens or felt writers have become popular forhousehold and business use. The writing tips of these pens, whilerelatively small in comparison 'to the felt markers previously marketed,are nevertheless considerably larger than ball-point tips, and as aresult such cartridges are not customarily made to retractably mountthem in a manner similar to ball-point cartridges. In particular, abarrel capable of retractably receiving such a cartridge in the samemanner in which ball-point cartridges are normally mounted would nothave the slim gentle taper which makes conventional ball-point pensaesthetically pleasing and easy to manipulate, and moreover the end ofthe barrel would necessarily have an enlarged aperture for receiving thefelt tip. This barrel construction would not adequately shield thewriting tip from nearby objects. Furthermore, fiber tips, beingrelatively flexible, would have an even greater tendency to deposit inkon the margins of the barrel apertures than ,is'the case withconventional ball-point pens. Also, the

fiber tips of these pens function like a wick and, unless covered, theink evaporates at an accelerated rate. Consequently, fiber tip markersof current manufacture do not employ retractable tips, but are, on thecontrary, supplied with removable protective covers similar to thoseused on fountain pens.

3,480,370 Patented Nov. 25, 1969 The present invention is a writinginstrument having a barrel provided with an ink cartridge and writingpoint mounted on the end of the cartridge. The barrel has at its endlongitudinally extending fingers which close upon one another andsubstantially completely cover and protect the writing point when thatpoint is retracted. When the point is extended, a portion of thecartridge engages the fingers and urges them apart, thereby allowing thepoint to project beyond the end of the barrel for marking purposes. In amodified form of the invention the barrel is continuous and the fingersform part of a collet which is shiftable within the barrel and encirclesthe pen point.

Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted theprovision of a writing instrument in which the writing point retractsinto and is completely shielded by the barrel; the provision of awriting instrument in which the writing point is relatively broad, yetretracts into a slim tapered barrel; the provision of a writinginstrument which does not leave a deposit of ink and paper fibers on thepen barrel after the point has been retracted numerous times; and theprovision of a writing instrument which is simple and rugged inconstruction and economical to manufacture. Other objects and featureswill be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafterdescribed, the scope of the invention being indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which several possible embodiments ofthe invention are illustrated,

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a writing instrument constructed inaccordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the writing instrument with thewriting tip retracted;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the writing instrument;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

'FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but showingthe writing tip extended beyond the end of the barrel;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of writinginstrument;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7 7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of another modified form ofwriting instrument;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exploded elevational view of the writing instrumentillustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of still another modified formof writing instrument;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 1212 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of a further modified form ofwriting instrument;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of still another modified formof writing instrument showing the writing tip and collet retracted;

FIG. 15 is an end elevational view of the writing instrument illustratedin FIG. 14; and

FIG. 16 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 14 but showing the writingtip and collet in their extended positions.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawmgs.

Referring now to the drawings, 2 designates a writing instrumentincluding a barrel 4, an end cap 6, and an ink cartridge 8 mounted forshiftable movement in barrel 4.

Barrel 4 is preferably molded from a somewhat flexible plastic and has agently tapered tubular body portion having a diametrally reducedthreaded end portion 12 projecting axially from its upper end, referencebeing made to the position in which instrument 2 is normally held whenwriting on a horizontal surface. At its opposite or lower end, bodyportion 10 is provided with three upwardly extending longitudinal slits14 which open into three circumferentially spaced triangular cutouts 16,thereby defining three longitudinally extending fingers 18 which taperinwardly to form a rounded nose portion 20 on barrel 4. Immediatelyinwardly from nose portion 20, body portion 10 is undercut in theformation of a shallow circumferential recess 22 which extends upwardlybeyond triangular cutouts 16. Fitted into recess 22 is an elastomericband 24 which biases fingers 18 toward one another so that the edgesforming slits 14 abut unless otherwise restricted.

Barrel 4 is provided with an internal axially extending bore 26 whichextends through threaded end portion 12 and body portion 10. At itslower end, bore 26 tapers inwardly with the taper of body portion 10 andterminates at shoulders 28 located on the inwardly presented surfaces offingers 18 substantially midway between their ends. Beyond shoulders 28,fingers 18 are relieved in the formation of an axially extending Well 30in body portion 10 which opens upwardly into bore 26.

Mounted in bore 26 for limited axial shifting movement between extendedand retracted positions is ink cartridge 8, including a tubularreservoir 32 having a tapered intermediate portion 34 at its lower endwhich merges into an axially extending diametrally reduced end portion36 having a fiber marker 38 retained therein by means of crimps. Fibermarker 38 projects axially beyond end portion 36 in the provision of awriting tip 39 which is disposed within well 30 of barrel 4 whencartridge 8 is in its retracted position. Encircling end portion 36rearwardly beyond writing tip 39 is a sleeve 40 having a chamferedcamming surface 42 which is located adjacent shoulders 28 when cartridge8 is in its retracted position (FIG. 4). The location of camming surface42 with respect to writing tip 39 of marker 38 is such that whencartridge 8 is moved axially forward in barrel 4, camming surface 42will engage shoulders 28 before tip 39 reaches the base or closed end ofwell 30. Moreover, the taper of camming surface 42 and the diameter ofsleeve 40 are such that continued advancement of cartridge 8 will causecamming surface 42 to spread fingers 18 sufficiently to allow writingtip 39 to project beyond the spread nose portion 20 on barrel 4 withoutbeing in contact or having ever contacted the internal surfaces offingers 18 (FIG. 5).

Crimped into the opposite end of tubular reservoir 32 is a plastic endplug 44 having a diametrally reduced operating stem 46 projectingaxially therefrom. Embracing reservoir 32 immediately downwardly fromplug 44 is a restraining collar 48 and bearing against collar 48 is acoil spring 50 which also encircles reservoir 32. At its opposite endcoil spring 50 bears against a slidable ring '52 which rests on theupper rim of end portion 12 on barrel 4. Accordingly, spring 50continually biases cartridge 8 to its retracted position. Reservoir 32is filled with a suitable ink composition which saturates fiber marker38.

The upper end of cartridge 8 projects out of bore 26 beyond which it iscontained within end cap '6 which forms an uninterrupted externalcontinuation of barrel 4. End cap 6 (FIG. 3) includes a body portion 60having a downwardly opening lower bore 62 which receives the upper endof cartridge 8. The walls defining the lower end of bore 62 are threadedfor reception of threaded end portion 12 of barrel 4. Shiftably mountedin the opposite end of end cap 6 is an actuating button 80, andinterposed between stem 46 and button 80 is an actuating mechanism 90.Since actuating mechanism 90 is conventional, it is designated by dottedlines in FIG. 3. When button is depressed, mechanism will act upon stem46 and shift cartridge 8 axially within bore 26 to its extendedpositions. When cartridge 8 reaches its fully extended position, whereinwriting tip 39 projects beyond nose portion 20 on barrel 4, mechanism 90will engage cap 6 and maintain cartridge 8 in that position until button80 is again depressed or mechanism 90 is otherwise disturbed. When thisoccurs mechanism 90 Will disengage itself from cap 6, and allow spring50 to shift cartridge 8 back to its retracted position.

As cartridge 8 moves from its fully retracted position to its extendedposition, camming surface 42 will engage shoulders 28 and spread fingers18 before writing tip 39 reaches the base of well 30 (FIG. 4). Continuedadvancement of cartridge 8 will cause shoulders 28 to ride up onto theexterior surface of sleeve 40, thereby maintaining fingers 18 in aspread condition (FIG. 5). Since fingers 18 are spread, tip 39 of marker38 is free to shift outwardly between spread fingers 18 and projectbeyond the extreme end or nose portion 20 on barrel 4. When button 80 isagain pushed so that spring 50 will retract cartridge 8, the reversesequence of operation occurs with elastomeric band 24 assisting thenatural resiliency of the plastic in bringing fingers 18 into snugclosure. This closure is sufficiently tight to prevent any appreciableevaporation of the ink from writing tip 39, thereby preventing fibermarker 38 from drying out through exposure. Furthermore, marker 38 iscompletely shielded so that objects coming in contact with the end ofbarrel 4 Will not be stained with ink. Also, when cartridge 8 is movedinto and retracted from its extended position, fingers 18 are maintainedin spaced relation from Writing tip 39 so that ink and paper fibers donot accumulate on them.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, it is possible to provide a modifiedwriting instrument which is similar to writing instrument 2, but has aball-point cartridge in lieu of a fiber marker cartridge. Writinginstrument 100 includes a barrel 102 which gently tapers inwardly to arounded nose portion 104 at its lower end where it is provided withthree axially extending slits 106 defining three fingers 108. Barrel 102is preferably formed from a flexible plastic and embedded within itsnose portion 104 beyond the ends of slits 106 is a spring band 110having metal arms 112 projecting from the lower margin thereof alongfingers 108 into which they are embedded. Arms 112 are also formed froma resilient metal and are biased toward one another so as to urgefingers 108 into, and to hold them in, closure-forming abutment.Internally, barrel 102 is provided with a bore 114 and opening into bore114 within nose portion 104 is a well 116, the juncture between bore 114and well 116 being shoulders 118 which project inwardly from fingers108.

Fitted within barrel 102 for axial shifting movement between extendedand retracted positions is an ink cartridge 120 including a tubularreservoir 122 which tapers at its lower end into a cylindricalintermediate section 124 having a chamfered camming surface 126 at itslower end. When cartridge 120 is in its retracted position, cammingsurface 126 is located adjacent shoulders 118. Beyond shoulders 118,cartridge 120 is provided with a diametrally reduced writing tip 128including a tapered end which terminates at a rotatable ball 130.Cartridge 120 is shifted to-and-fro within barrel 102 by any suitableactuating means.

When cartridge 120 is in its retracted position, chamfered cammingsurface 126 is located immediately inwardly from shoulders 118, whilewriting tip 128 is disposed within well 116. Advancement of cartridge120 causes camming surface 126 to engage shoulders 118 and spreadfingers 108, so that writing tip 128 can pass through the opened noseportion 104. Upon continued advancement of cartridge 120, shoulders 118will ride upon the cylindrical surface of intermediate section 124 andat the same time writing tip 128 will be presented beyond the end ofnose portion 104 for writing in a manner similar to that previouslydescribed.

It is also possible to provide a writing instrument 134 (FIGS. 8-10)having a barrel 136 providexl with four fingers 138, the adjacent sideedges 140 of which are stepped and overlapped (FIG. 9), and are urgedintO marginal abutment by a spring metal split ring 142 located in acircumferential groove 144. This feature affords even greater shieldingof the writing tip. In such a case two opposed fingers 138 may be formedintegral with barrel 136 while the other two opposed fingers 138 may beformed on a separate ring 146 which is subsequently glued to a shoulder148 on barrel 136 (FIG. Fingers 138 are biased inwardly by means ofsplit ring 142 carried within circumferential groove 144 extendingaround fingers 138 (FIG. 8).

It is also possible to, provide a writing instrument 150 (FIGS. 11 and12) including a metal barrel 152 having a nose portion 154 provided withfour longitudinally extending slits 156 which define four fingers 158.Intermediate their ends, fingers 158 are indented inwardly in theformation of an external annular recess 160 and internal shoulders 162.Fitted within barrel 152 is a writing cartridge 164 having a tubularreservoir 165, a cylindrical intermediate section 166 which terminatesat camming surface 167, and a writing point 168. When cartridge 164moves into its extended position, camming surface 167 engages shoulders162 and spreads fingers 158 for outward extension of writing point 168.After further advancement of cartridge 164, shoulders 162 ride uponintermediate section 166 and are thereby maintained in the spreadposition. 1

Turning now to FIG. 13, another modified writing instrument 170 issimilar to writing instrument 150, but the gentle contoured taper of itsbarrel 172 is continuous to the end of its nose portion 174 which isprovided with four slits 176 defining four fingers 178. Fitted intobarrel 172 is a cartridge 180 having a tubular reservoir 182, acylindrical intermediate section 184 which is beveled at its ends in theprovision of a camming surface 186, and a tapered writing tip 188projecting axially from intermediate section 184. In this caseintermediate section 184 is larger and camming surface 186 is locatedcloser to writing tip 188 than their counterparts on writing instrument150. When cartridge 180 is moved to its extended position, cammingsurface 186 engages the inwardly presented surfaces of fingers 178 andspreads them, thereby permitting writing tip 188 to project beyond theend of barrel 172.

It should be noted that the nose portions of the foregoing writinginstruments can have from two to four and even more fingers and that thedescription of barrels having a specified number of fingers is forpurposes of illustration and not by way of limitation. Moreover, thecartridges previously described need not necessarily retain fibermarkers or ball-point tips, but they can also be mechanical pencils orcrayola holders.

As will be seen by reference to FIGS. l4-16, another modified writinginstrument 200 includes a tubular barrel 202 provided with a noseportion 204 which terminates at an aperture 206. Internally, barrel 202is provided with a shoulder 208 located immediately inwardly fromaperture 206, and abutting against shoulder 208 is an inwardly extendingforward coil spring 210 which encircles a protective collet 212preferably formed from a tempered resilient metal.

Collet 212 includes a collar portion 214 having a radially projectingflange 215 at its upper end for engaging the opposite end of coil spring210. Extending downwardly and substantially axially from the oppositeend of collar portion 214 are three outwardly biased arms 216, the biasthereof resulting from the natural resiliency of the metal. Arms 216terminate at generally triangular plate-like cover elements or shields218 which come into marginal abutment when arms 216 are urged together,

6 thereby forming a protective cover approximating a threesided pyramid(FIGS. 14 and 15).

Fitted within barrel 202 is an ink cartridge 220 having a tubularreservoir 222 which merges into a diametrally reduced cylindrical shank224 provided with a writing tip 226 at its end. Encircling shank 224between reservoir 222 and flange 215 is a rear coil spring 228. Writinginstrument 200 is further provided with a suitable mechanism forshifting cartridge 220 between an extended position and a retractedposition.

Assuming cartridge 220 is in its retracted position, writing tip 226will be withdrawn inwardly beyond the tip of nose portion 204 and intothe interior of barrel 202 (FIG. 14). Collet 212 will also be presentedrearwardly, being urged into that position by forward spring 210, andits plate-like cover elements 218 will marginally abut and completelyshield writing tip 226. Forward spring 210 will encircle arms 216 andthereby assist in retaining cover elements 218 in marginal contact. Ascartridge 220 is shifted to its extended position, rear spring 228 willcompress and bear against flange 215 and thereby shift collet 212forwardly in barrel 202. As cover elements 218 and arms 216 emerge fromaperture 206, arms 216 will spread by reason of their natural outwardbias and this will provide sufiicient clearance for continuedadvancement of writing tip 226 beyond cover elements 218. In time,forward spring 210 will sufliciently oppose further forward motion ofcollet 212 to enable writing tip 226 to extend into its fully extendedposition beyond the opened ends of cover elements 218, in which positiontip 226 is free for writing '(FIG. 16). When cartridge 220 is retracted,the opposite sequence of events occurs, that is cylindrical shank 224and writing tip 226 withdraw within barrel 202 at a somewhat greaterpace than collet 212, the cover elements 218 of which close aboutwriting tip 226. As cartridge 220 withdraws, arms 216 engage the marginsof aperture 206 and are cammed inwardly during the inwardly shiftingmovement of collet 212. When cartridge 220 is in its fully retractedposition, cover elements 218 will be in marginal abutment at aperture206 (FIG. 15).

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alirnitingsense.

What is claimed is:

1. A writing instrument comprising a barrel having a bore extendinglongitudinally therethrough; a plurality of slits extendinglongitudinally inwardly from one end of, said barrel, said slitsdefining a plurality of fingers which taper inwardly to form a noseportion at said one end of said barrel; said fingers having shoulderswhich protrude radially into said bore at a point between said one endof said barrel, and the inner ends of said slits; said barrel, saidfingers and said shoulders being of unitary construction; a cartridgeshiftably mounted within said bore and including a writing tip and acamming surface; said cartridge being movable from a retracted positionwherein its writing tip is within said barrel to an extended positionwherein said writing tip protrudes axially beyond said fingers; saidcamming surface being positioned on said cartridge so that it engagessaid shoulders during movement of said cartridge to its extendedposition and spreads said fingers prior to the exit of said writing tipfrom said barrel; and bias means encircling and engaging the outersurfaces of said fingers to yieldably urge them radially inwardly intosnug closure-forming relationship.

2. The writing instrument of claim 1 wherein said bias means is anelastomeric band which covers said slits a substantial distance alongtheir lengths.

, 3.- The Writing instrument of claim 1 wherein the adjacent sideedgesof said fingers are stepped and overlapped so as to impedeevaporation of ink from said writing tip when said cartridge is in itsretracted position.

4. A writing instrument comprising a barrel having a bore extendinglongitudinally therethrough and terminating in an aperture at one end ofsaid barrel; a collet shiftably mounted within said bore and having acollar portion and a plurality of outwardly biased arms terminating incover elements; a cartridge shiftably mounted within said bore with oneof its ends slidably extending through said collar portion andterminating at a writing tip; said collet being movable from a retractedposition wherein it is within said bore and said cover elements are inclosure-forming abutment shielding said writing tip to an extendedposition wherein said cover elements protrude from said aperture andspread radially outwardly from one another; said cartridge being movablefrom a retracted position wherein said writing tip is within said boreto an extended position wherein said writing tip protrudes beyond saidaperture; said writing tip protruding beyond said cover elements whensaid cartridge and said collet are in their extended positions; andspring means between said collet and said cartridge, whereby said springmeans causes said collet to move to its extended position in response tomovement of said cartridge towards its extended position, said springmeans yielding when saidcollet reaches its extended position to permitsaid writing tip of said cartridge to continue its extension beyond saidcollet.

1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,839,817 1/1932 Walker 401 1071,714,965 5/1929 Ullner 401-107 2,111,767 3/1938 Gimonet 401 107 xFOREIGN PATENTS 243,110 11/1925 Great Britain. 788,722 8/1935 France.1,424,491' 12/1965 France.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examinerv

